Tired and Frustrated

Posted by anointedplace on September 16, 2015 · 1 Comment 

Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all [a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is [b]easy and My burden is light.”

Have you ever wonder why that whenever you asked someone what they were going to do now that the house is no longer filled with kids, guests, or any other person for that matter; they respond sometimes with “I’m gonna walk around naked!” They don’t usually mean that but sometimes they actually do mean it. That statement is an expression of complete and utter exposure, vulnerability, comfort, peace, tranquillity, and openness. This state of euphoria is what we all want and it is what we all seek after a hard day at work. It is the serenity and sanctuary we long for but rarely find; even in our own homes. We even look for it in relationships but usually opt-out for more materialistic things or those qualities that will aid in gaining the world. This peace can be had but it comes with a cost that we just can’t bear to pay. Yet, at the same time there is someone whispering into our hearts that if we grasps them that they can buy it for us. On the other hand there is a man who came for this very reason but He ask that we change directions completely. He doesn’t promise the same thing as the other fellow and that bothers us to our core. This man doesn’t suggest but commands that things be done on His own terms; were as the other fellow gives us perceived options.

In the back of our minds and in the depths of our souls and in the midst of the turmoil in our hearts we want to be naked again like before. But to turn around and walk back would be shameful. Others and ourselves included have overloaded our shoulders with a burden meant to be carried by someone who is able. We have created an imaginary opponent with whom we compete against. We have created enemies that we battle with and they don’t even know that they are enemies. We have destroyed relationships before they even started because of what we thought they thought of us. All because we want to be naked and just can’t stand to do it because we are afraid of losing things. The accuser is running wild holding a torch among the forest. We are looking for a home that doesn’t exist on the present earth. We are seeking a home in which we can be ourselves. We are looking for a place were we can be exposed. We are looking for a refuge were we can speak and share our hopes. We are looking for a dining table that has been removed of all its formal ornaments. We are looking for the living room floor covered in big soft pillows. We are looking for the gently lit backyard were the grand oak tree holds the old but reliable wooden swing. We are looking for the fire pit filled with the dancing flames on a cold winter night. We are looking for grandmother’s kitchen and her favourite tasting spoon. We want to be children….

We so desperately want to be caught and found out. We want our secrets revealed and our skeletons ripped from the closets. But we are scared of losing the false sense of progress made in reaching Mammon, our god of money. We want to take off the masks but can’t, why? It’s simple really, we aren’t tired and frustrated enough to surrender and submit to Jesus Christ yet. We still have fight in us. We still on our grind. We still hustling to get to the ever moving goal that Mammon promises us; that place were we can be naked finally. As long as we think that we can do things on our own terms we will bargain with God. As long as we think we can do everything, as long as we believe that we can do everything “well”. As long as we think more of ourselves than we should, we will continue to move through life lifeless. We live empty and die empty but not because we gave all we had to achieve some greater good. We die empty because we lived for nothing and what we gain will be burnt up when judged. We don’t realize the beautiful ministry of suffering, trials, tribulations, weariness, weaknesses, frustrations, tiredness, and helplessness play in the lives of the Children of God. This even includes those Jesus is calling out of the world. In the midst of our frustrations, God is exposing our false sense of our power. God is pushing us towards nakedness before Him.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
James 4:6-11
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

In Matthew 1:28-30, Jesus is speaking to people who were burden with not just keeping the ten commandments and the law Moses gave but also all of the laws given by the Pharisees. They were constantly being judged for every little thing they did or didn’t do. They weren’t living at all. Even though the point of the ten commandments were to expose this truth about us all, that we can’t be holy and righteous on our own in our sinful state. The Law is called a guardian or school master used to lead us to Christ. So is it that God uses the ups and downs we go through to lead us closer to God. So when Jesus calls out to them, “Come to Me, all [a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” They were ready to give up trying to save themselves. They were ready to be naked before God and draw near to Him by being humble enough to admit that they weren’t perfect, to the point that they could now fellowship with those they once disagreed with. This displayed unity that is found in Christ because we no longer judge each other because in Christ we are equal and safely exposed. We have peace with God and in God. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings us to the kitchen table of the household of the heavenly Father for all eternity. Until we grow tired of living up to who we say we are, we will never give it up and start living as who Jesus says we are by a standard that He has already secured by His life, death and resurrection.

Filed under Brokenness, Christ, community, Faith, Humility, Jesus Christ, Justification, mankind, Reconciliation, Righteousness, Salvation, Sin, Suffering, Ten Commandments, The Gospel, The Law, Understanding, unity · Tagged with Bible, Christ, Christian, God, Gospel of Matthew, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Pharisees, Psalms, The Lord (book)